Working Groups

Humboldt COAD Working Groups are the driving force behind our community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters effectively. These groups bring together organizations, businesses, faith-based entities, and community leaders to collaborate on critical issues such as access and functional needs, emergency food access, animal welfare, communications and more. By focusing on specific areas of disaster preparedness and response, Working Groups ensure that resources are strategically allocated, communication is streamlined, and gaps in services are addressed before, during, and after an emergency. Their work strengthens resilience by fostering coordination among diverse stakeholders, reducing duplication of efforts, and ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the support they need when it matters most.

Why Are Working Groups Important?

Working groups play a crucial role in ensuring that COAD functions efficiently and meets its mission objectives. Their importance can be understood in several key ways:

• Targeted Focus: Each working group concentrates on a specific area, such as disaster preparedness, recovery coordination, or resource management. This focus allows for in-depth planning and specialized expertise.

• Enhanced Collaboration: By bringing together representatives from different sectors—nonprofits, businesses, government, and community organizations—working groups create a network of shared responsibility and action.

• Increased Efficiency: With a structured approach to problem-solving, working groups streamline efforts, prevent duplication, and ensure that resources are allocated where they are most needed.

• Stronger Community Resilience: By continuously evaluating and addressing needs, working groups contribute to a more prepared and responsive community before, during, and after disasters.

Each Working Group operates in both "blue sky" and "gray sky" conditions—adapting their roles based on the disaster cycle. In blue sky (non-disaster) times, Working Groups focus on preparedness efforts, such as developing emergency plans, conducting training exercises, strengthening partnerships, and identifying potential resource needs before a crisis occurs. This proactive work ensures that systems and relationships are in place long before they are needed. In gray sky (disaster) conditions, the importance of the Working Group network truly shines, as these groups become integral components of Humboldt COAD’s response efforts. The relationships, coordination structures, and expertise built in blue sky times enable Working Groups to mobilize quickly and effectively, supporting COAD’s overarching disaster coordination efforts.

Working Groups also benefit from COAD’s direct lines of communication with local government agencies, including the Office of Emergency Services (OES). This connection allows COAD leadership to quickly receive and disseminate critical information from local officials, ensuring that Working Groups and their member organizations have real-time updates on response priorities, resource availability, and urgent community needs. By acting as a bridge between emergency management agencies and the broader nonprofit and private-sector networks, COAD ensures that Working Groups remain well-informed and can adapt their efforts accordingly. This structure enhances coordination, prevents misinformation, and ensures that vital services and resources are effectively distributed to the people who need them most.

After you become a Member Organization, your organization’s representative or alternate can get involved with one of the COAD’s 12 working groups listed below. Please email us if your organization would like to get involved with one or more of the working groups to let us know specifically which one(s) your organization is interested in: info@HumboldtCOAD.org

These Working Groups typically meet on a monthly basis in addition to contributing to the larger general, Quarterly, and tie of disaster meetings with the entire COAD membership/partner assembly.